Drive-chain



(Model.)

W. D. EWART.

DRIVE GHAN.

No.' 255,959 Patented Apr. 4,1882,

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UNITED STATES PATENT GEErcE.

VILLIAM I). EVART, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DRIVE-CHAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 255,959, dated April 4, 1882.

Application tiled January 30, i882. (Model.)

To all whom it may concmn Beit known that I, WILLIAM DANAEWART, of (lhicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drive-Chains; and do hereby declare tl1at,\tl1e following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this applica-tion.

My invention relates to that kind of drivechain which is formed ot' links each composed 0f two side bars and one end bar, and in which the articulated parts ofthe chain, though not detachable in the sense in which the word detachable is usually now employed in connection with drive-chain devices, may be separated and recoupled by simply bending or springing outwardly and then restoring to its normal condition one of the side bars of a link. y

My invention has for its main objects toimprove lhis species of chain by rendering the structure stronger and more durable without any greater weight or bulk 0f stock, to more ctlectually prevent any spreading apartof the free ends of the link side bars under tensional strain of the chain, and to render the chain at the same time capable of a ready separation and reunion of any ofits parts for any of the usual purposes; and to these main ends and objects my invention consists in the novel features of construction of thelink, and the manner ofeombining duplicates of such lin`k,which will be hereinafter more particularly described, and specifically pointed out in the claims of this specication.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use chains embodying my invention, I will now proceed to more fully explain the construction and operation of the latter, referring by letters to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which Figure l is a plan or face View, showing a chain made according to my improvements. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same. Fig. 3 is a face view of one of the links, showing the shape of the link before the side bars have been bent toward each other. Fig. 4 is a view of the pintle-bar or key by means of which the hollow end bar of one link is hinged to the free ends of the side bars of another link 5 and Each linkof the chain is composed, as shown, l

of a tubular or hollow end bar, A, and two side bars, b b, united integrally with said end bar and projecting therefrom in slightly-divergent lines, as seen at Fig. Each of the side bars is preferably ribbed at c for strength, and at that end of .said rib nearestthe eye or bore ot' the end bar, A, said rib projects into a keeper device,d, while on the other end said rib c terminates in a sort of hub or thickened portion, and at this locality the free end of each side bar is perforated with a hole or eye, preferably of nearly rectangular contour.

IJ is the pintle or axial key, which is of cylindrical form where it fills (when in place) the bore ofthe hollow end bar of a link, and of a form at its tenen-like endsf adapted to tit the holes in the side bars.

At the edge and near the extreme end of one of the side bars, b b, is formed a notch orA cut-out, i, for a purpose to be presently eX- plained.

The links are cast of some suitable pliable material, preferably malleable iron, in theform shown at Fig. 3, and any number of such links requisite to form a chain are put together in the following manner, viz:

A pintle or key-piece, P, is inserted in the bore of the end bar, A, of a link, and said link is then placed with one end of its end bar and pintle in the proper working relationship with the perforated end of one of the side bars of a duplicate link, the keeper d at one side ofthe link being placed over or outside of the edge of said end bar of said duplicate link. Then by the placement of the two links in the relative position seen at Fig. 5, and the enforcement together ot' the free ends ofthe side bars ofthe said duplicate link until both of the tenonsf of the pintle P shall have been fully seated in the holes of the end bars of the duplicate link, the two links will be completely hinged together. During the operation of thus uniting the links the keeper device d, designed to overlap the outer edge portion of the other ICO one of the duplicate link side bars, will pass through the cut-out or notch i, and when the two coupled links shall have been subsequently turned into a working relative position, the free ends Ot' both side bars of said duplicate lilik will be confined laterally between and will be held properly from spreading apart by the two overlapping keepers d d, as clearly seen at Fig. l.

It will be observed that in a chain composed of links such as shown, put together in the manner explained, great strength and durability are combined with lightness of stock, and that while the articulated parts may be nncoupled and recoupled after the formation of the chain, by either bending or springing the side bars, said side bars, b b, cannot spread apart, because ofthe presence ofthekeepers d d. These keepers, not having to be subjected to any bending or any change of form after having been cast, and being comparatively short,

are easily made very strong at the outset, and do not have their strength ever impaired by any bending of the metal of which they are composed.

Ot' course variations in the size and proportions ofthe link and of its parts may beinade without departing from the invention shown and described, the pith of which is in having the free ends of the side bars securely held latorally toward each other and on the tenons of the pintlelike device by keeper devices cast integral with side bars of tbe next link, while at the same time the union ofthe links to form the chain and their separation and reunion may be effected without bending the keeper devices or any other part which in the working of the chain can be subjected to any serious strain tending to bend the stock of such part.

Of course the tenen-like devicesfmight be,

made round, and might be cast integral with a solid end bar; but it is deemed preferable to make them polygonal, so as not to turn in their bearings, and to have them on a pintle, P, tted inside of a hollow end bar, A, as by such construction a larger wearing-surface is provided at the hinge-joint of the chain.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A chain-link composed of one tubular end bar and two side bars, said side bars being provided with keepers d d and a notch or cut-out, t', and formed either parallel with each vother or otherwise, substantially as and for the purpose specied.

2. A chain composed of duplicate links each formed with one end bar and two side bars, as specified, and provided with keepers d d and a notch, z', the said links being hinged together l by a suitable pintle.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 3d day of January, 1882.

WILLIAM D. EWART. ln presence of- E. A. TURNER, A. D. DANA. 

